Project Activities of Animators and the Activation of Local Social Forces (the Case of Warmia and Mazury)

The specificity of the Warmia and Mazury region, a unique cultural mosaic paired with social problems, provided a space for building social engagement in the environment by involving the local community in socio-cultural activities. These actions resulted in changes to the living environment of individuals and social groups through their participation and engagement. The aim of the article is to present the results of research showing the views of animators regarding the impact of implemented social and cultural projects on stimulating social forces in small towns and villages of Warmia and Mazury. The research findings presented in the following section show the important aspects of this activity, starting from the sources/motives of creating projects and incorporating environmental resources into them, through cooperation with the local community and creating environmental leaders, to assessing the changes taking place as a result of the implemented projects. The presented research results allow for the conclusion that animators, through their project activities, contributed to permanent, positive changes in the local environment, awakening social forces (open and hidden), and to an increase in socio-cultural activity, both during and after the project activities.